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jenlynnhill's review against another edition
2.0
This book was okay, a nice fluffy read with a couple of twists. I wouldn't say the writing was amazing, and I don't know that I would read anything else by this author, but it was okay for a quick read.
nee223's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this cute book. It was pleasantly longer than I expected. I really enjoyed the plot. I could envision the whole Italian village. An enjoyable read.
readingwitheden's review against another edition
3.0
Slow starter and entirely predictable. I did enjoy reading it but it wasn't anything new or special. Every plot "twist" was one I expected. Very predictable yet still enjoyable if you're into this kind of thing.
vaniavela's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Apricot Kisses is a contemporary romance novel in translation.
Hanna is a culinary journalist living in Berlin. She travels around Europe to write restaurant reviews, most of them quite harsh. When she writes a scathing review of Tre Camini, a small family business, the owner, Giuseppa Camini, dies of a fatal heart attack just as the contents of the article become known.
When Camini's grandson, Fabrizio Camini, files a lawsuit accusing Hanna and the magazine he works for of causing his grandmother's death, it is up to Hanna to convince him to drop the case or he will be out of a job.
The story is written in alternating chapters from the perspective of Hanna Philip and Fabrizio, which allows the reader to get to know the two main characters better.
One of the problems I had regarding the book was that I tried so hard to like them as characters, but I just couldn't. Fabrizio was a bit of a jerk, I have to say.
As for the development of the couple I think they both an instant love which I find unrealistic. They went from attraction at first sight to the deepest love in a heartbeat, and I don't buy that easily. It made the ending rushed and the last chapter fell somewhat short.
My edition of the book was a little weird (publishing issues, I guess) so there were like two chapters on the same page (like the end of one and the beginning of the other) and that was a little annoying.
What I did like was the setting. The story takes place mostly in a small Italian town and the author does a fabulous job with her vivid descriptions of the town and its villagers. And let's not talk about the descriptions of the food. And, oh, we get recipes at the end!
Overall, it was a pretty decent book. Bonus points for the last mentioned point and because the cover was kind of cute (I don't like real people on book covers).
dani_reviews's review against another edition
3.0
See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.
Apricot Kisses is a great translated contemporary romance novel. The fated couple is comprised of Hanna and Fabrizio, two stubborn people who, by what can only be fate, are brought together against their will. (It's actually quite funny – Hanna 'borrows' Fabrizio's grandmother's urn in an airport in Germany and has to return it to him in Italy.) Both characters drove me and each other crazy, but they were made for each other. Throw in Italian sunshine, family and food, and you get a cute comfort story to fuel your Mediterranean daydreams.
This book was exactly what I needed when I needed it. After hearing my grandfather had passed away on the 1st of November, I couldn’t handle any of the books I should have been reading. I alternated between numbness, anger and depression, and I couldn’t bring myself to read; not the books I had for blog tours (thank you, MaryAnn, for being so understanding), not the books I had been given as gifts recently by wonderful friends and not the sure-to-be–5-star book I was halfway through (sorry, author). So when Amazon’s Kindle First email came through the same day as the news, I glanced at it, looking for something that might spark my interest or, at the very least, distract my brain with something easy. While I’d usually choose the fantasy book (which I do plan to read), I passed it and went for a good old Contemporary Romance set in Italy.
Found on the Where To Go Global website: http://www.wtg-global.net/destination/europe/tuscany-italy/
I found both Fabrizio and Hanna really annoying at first, both hard in their own ways. Hanna was a reserved German food critic with a reputation for being harsh, while Fabrizio was a closed-off apricot farmer. They were just both so stubborn and ridiculous and I wanted to SMACK THEM. AAARRRGGHHH. But then like two rocks, they smoothed over each other’s rougher parts, and I couldn’t see them with anyone except each other. Also, fair warning, there are a couple heated scenes, but they're not explicit.
I want to say one thing about Hanna that I loved. She was a career woman, and I feel career women are sometimes painted in a negative light. She loved her job, and she was proud of that fact. She didn’t compromise on that part of her, even when she could have dropped everything to be with a hunky Italian man. This really made the book extra special to me, as far too often, we see women give up their friends, jobs and hobbies to be with a man, especially in romance books. Oh sure, you’ll get the strong women with attitude, but they still run off with the man for True Love without much thought. Even in love, Hanna thought about who she was and what was important to her. YES.
If I weren’t so introverted, I think I would have moved to Italy years ago, found myself an Italian boyfriend and settled in with an Italian family. Maybe it’s all just a stereotype, but I love the idea of a big Italian family with the nonna cooking hearty Italian food. (Mmmm pasta…) Of course, this is all theoretical, as I love my space and privacy far too much. But the family in here was wonderful, and I especially loved Lucia.
The setting shifted between Germany and Italy. I will admit I partly chose this book because I have a slight obsession with the country and the food. LOOK HOW PRETTY IT IS! Reading this book, I could imagine the rolling hills and small town and overall warmth that I associate with Italy. AND THERE ARE RECIPES AT THE END OF THE BOOK!!! How cool is that???
A note on the language and writing style... This is a translation from German, and I read another review saying that the translation was bad and stilted and whatnot. I read this review after reading the book, and while I agree that there is something different about the voice, I don't think it was at all a bad translation. In fact, I only realised it was a translation after reading the review! I think the voice was appropriate given the main female character is German, and it added to the story rather than detracting from it.
Overall... Look, you know how this is will end, right? Well, the end is really cute (if a little unhygenic for my delicate, germaphobe tastes). But no, it’s really cute. I actually wish there was a bit more at the end of the HEA, not just a quick epilogue. Come on, I need my fairytale! While I wasn't blown away – I think it's difficult for contemporaries to do that – I did enjoy this story and am glad I picked it up. :)
Apricot Kisses is a great translated contemporary romance novel. The fated couple is comprised of Hanna and Fabrizio, two stubborn people who, by what can only be fate, are brought together against their will. (It's actually quite funny – Hanna 'borrows' Fabrizio's grandmother's urn in an airport in Germany and has to return it to him in Italy.) Both characters drove me and each other crazy, but they were made for each other. Throw in Italian sunshine, family and food, and you get a cute comfort story to fuel your Mediterranean daydreams.
This book was exactly what I needed when I needed it. After hearing my grandfather had passed away on the 1st of November, I couldn’t handle any of the books I should have been reading. I alternated between numbness, anger and depression, and I couldn’t bring myself to read; not the books I had for blog tours (thank you, MaryAnn, for being so understanding), not the books I had been given as gifts recently by wonderful friends and not the sure-to-be–5-star book I was halfway through (sorry, author). So when Amazon’s Kindle First email came through the same day as the news, I glanced at it, looking for something that might spark my interest or, at the very least, distract my brain with something easy. While I’d usually choose the fantasy book (which I do plan to read), I passed it and went for a good old Contemporary Romance set in Italy.
Found on the Where To Go Global website: http://www.wtg-global.net/destination/europe/tuscany-italy/I found both Fabrizio and Hanna really annoying at first, both hard in their own ways. Hanna was a reserved German food critic with a reputation for being harsh, while Fabrizio was a closed-off apricot farmer. They were just both so stubborn and ridiculous and I wanted to SMACK THEM. AAARRRGGHHH. But then like two rocks, they smoothed over each other’s rougher parts, and I couldn’t see them with anyone except each other. Also, fair warning, there are a couple heated scenes, but they're not explicit.
I want to say one thing about Hanna that I loved. She was a career woman, and I feel career women are sometimes painted in a negative light. She loved her job, and she was proud of that fact. She didn’t compromise on that part of her, even when she could have dropped everything to be with a hunky Italian man. This really made the book extra special to me, as far too often, we see women give up their friends, jobs and hobbies to be with a man, especially in romance books. Oh sure, you’ll get the strong women with attitude, but they still run off with the man for True Love without much thought. Even in love, Hanna thought about who she was and what was important to her. YES.
If I weren’t so introverted, I think I would have moved to Italy years ago, found myself an Italian boyfriend and settled in with an Italian family. Maybe it’s all just a stereotype, but I love the idea of a big Italian family with the nonna cooking hearty Italian food. (Mmmm pasta…) Of course, this is all theoretical, as I love my space and privacy far too much. But the family in here was wonderful, and I especially loved Lucia.
The setting shifted between Germany and Italy. I will admit I partly chose this book because I have a slight obsession with the country and the food. LOOK HOW PRETTY IT IS! Reading this book, I could imagine the rolling hills and small town and overall warmth that I associate with Italy. AND THERE ARE RECIPES AT THE END OF THE BOOK!!! How cool is that???
A note on the language and writing style... This is a translation from German, and I read another review saying that the translation was bad and stilted and whatnot. I read this review after reading the book, and while I agree that there is something different about the voice, I don't think it was at all a bad translation. In fact, I only realised it was a translation after reading the review! I think the voice was appropriate given the main female character is German, and it added to the story rather than detracting from it.
Overall... Look, you know how this is will end, right? Well, the end is really cute (if a little unhygenic for my delicate, germaphobe tastes). But no, it’s really cute. I actually wish there was a bit more at the end of the HEA, not just a quick epilogue. Come on, I need my fairytale! While I wasn't blown away – I think it's difficult for contemporaries to do that – I did enjoy this story and am glad I picked it up. :)
xamyver's review against another edition
5.0
Ich liebe alles an diesem Buch. Den Schreibstil, die Ereignisse und die Liebe.
piepieb's review against another edition
3.0
I love reading about food! If you want a fluffy, delicious, chick flick-like story, this book will definitely fit the bill. Travel to Tuscany with Hanna as she determines to make right concerning a scathing article she wrote. The family she meets there is hilarious, and the man who falls in love with her is sexy-sweet. I love how everything comes full circle by the end of the novel, and how both Hanna and Fabrizio are rushing to the Berlin airport to meet each other. A very happy ending for everybody :)
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